Boston Legacy FC has signed Brazil international and 2025 Ballon dOr nominee Amanda Gutierres through 2029, the club announced Friday.
The 24-year-old arrives from Brazilian club Palmeiras on a permanent pre-transfer. She will join the National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) expansion club ahead of their inaugural season in January, after the 2026 transfer window opens.
Gutierres is a tenacious forward known for her goal-scoring ability. She finished 21st in the Ballon dOrs global ranking, cementing her place as one of the top players in the world. At Palmeiras, she was the Campeonato Brasileiro Feminino Série A1 Golden Boot winner in 2023 and 2024. She also received the Bola de Prata award in 2024, a prized handed down to the leagues best players.
Gutierres is a regular and vital member of the Brazilian womens national team, excelling with the team at last summers Copa America Femenina in Ecuador. Brazil lifted their ninth Copa America title after a dramatic win over Colombia, with Gutierres scoring in the 80th minute of that final. With six goals, she ended the competition as the tournaments top goalscorer.
Gutierres is a proven goalscorer both domestically and internationally, showing remarkable consistency over the past few years as Brazils top scorer, Bostons general manager Domè Guasch said in a club statement.
At the international level, she excelled at the Copa América, finishing as the tournaments leading scorer and playing a pivotal role in the final. Her hard work and achievements have been recognized with a Ballon dOr nomination, and were thrilled to bring her winning mentality and relentless work rate to Boston in 2026.
Earlier this week, Boston also announced the signing of 18-year-old rising star Chloe Ricketts from the Washington Spirit. Ricketts is the youngest player on the clubs growing roster and will spend the remainder of the 2025 season on a short-term deal with the Houston Dash, before joining Legacy in January.
Boston debuts in the NWSL in 2026, alongside fellow expansion side Denver Summit. The two clubs have slowly been building their rosters as their inaugural seasons fast approach. One of the Bostons splashiest signings came in August, when they signed Venezuelan international midfielder Barbara Olivieri from the Houston Dash.
Theres likely to be more transfer news coming out of NWSL clubs in coming weeks, as the intraleague transfer window deadline nears on Oct. 9. Teams are likely rushing to finalize deals before that date, which is when rosters in the league will freeze.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
NWSL, Women’s Soccer, Transfer News
2025 The Athletic Media Company